Antigen antibody response
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Understanding the Antigen-Antibody Response
Introduction to Antigen-Antibody Interaction
The antigen-antibody response is a fundamental aspect of the immune system, where antibodies produced by B cells specifically bind to antigens, which are foreign molecules such as proteins, carbohydrates, or lipids. This interaction is crucial for identifying and neutralizing pathogens like bacteria and viruses.
Humoral Immune Responses Against Tumor Antigens
Research has extensively studied humoral immune responses against tumor-associated antigens (TAAs). Antibodies against TAAs such as p53, MUC1, NY-ESO-1, and Her2/neu have been detected in cancer patients, with varying frequencies. Notably, antibodies against MUC1 are associated with a favorable prognosis, while those against p53 correlate with poor disease outcomes. This suggests that endogenous antibodies play different functional roles in cancer progression and prognosis1.
Quantifying Antibody Responses in Immunotherapies
In the context of cancer immunotherapies, antibodies are pivotal due to their ability to bind to surface-expressed antigens and facilitate antigen uptake by antigen-presenting cells. A novel preclinical method has been developed to evaluate antibody responses to antigen-agnostic immunotherapies using autologous tumor cells or virus-infected cells as antigen sources. This method allows for the assessment of antibody responses without predefined antigens, enhancing the understanding of humoral responses in immunotherapy2.
Maturation and Flexibility of Antibody Responses
The maturation of an antibody response is governed by changes in the flexibility of the antigen-combining site. This process involves modulations in the entropy-control of the binding step, which affects both the affinity and specificity of the antibody for the antigen. Such flexibility allows for a transition from a broad recognition capability to a high-fidelity effector response with minimal somatic mutations3.
Heterogeneous Antibody Responses in Tuberculosis
Antibody responses in tuberculosis patients show significant heterogeneity. Serum immunoglobulin G antibodies are produced against various Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens, with considerable variation in the number and type of antigens recognized by different individuals. This person-to-person heterogeneity is a key feature of the antibody response in tuberculosis, indicating that the immune response is highly individualized5.
Primary Antibody Response in Organ Cultures
Studies have demonstrated that specific antibody formation can be elicited in vitro following antigenic stimulation. Mouse spleen and lymph node explants, but not thymus cultures, have shown the ability to produce a primary immune response. This response is characterized by its kinetics, sensitivity to inhibitors, and preservation of lymphoid cell populations6.
Regulation of Immune Response by Antigens
The immune response is regulated by various factors, including antigen structure, localization, dose, and availability. These parameters determine the specificity and effectiveness of the immune response against pathogens. Understanding these factors is crucial for accurately measuring immune responses and developing effective vaccines7.
Antibody-Mediated Regulation of Immune Response
Antibodies can regulate the immune response to specific antigens through a phenomenon known as antibody-mediated feedback regulation. This can result in either enhancement or suppression of the antibody response. Different isotypes of IgG and IgM can enhance responses via mechanisms such as increased antigen presentation and B-cell activation, while IgG can also suppress responses through epitope masking8.
Profiling Antibody Responses in Malaria
In malaria, the antibody response to blood-stage vaccine candidates is complex and diverse. Serum reactivity to individual antigens does not correlate with immune status, but combined recognition of specific antigens, such as AMA-1 and MSP2 variants, is associated with protection against clinical malaria. This highlights the importance of analyzing reactivity profiles to understand immune responses and develop effective vaccines9.
Human Immune Response to Streptococcal Antigens
The immune response to group A Streptococcus (GAS) antigens involves the production of antibodies such as anti-streptolysin O and anti-DNase B. Sequential sampling and measuring multiple antibodies provide a more accurate definition of infection than single time-point measurements. Understanding the kinetics of the immune response to GAS is essential for accurate clinical diagnostics and epidemiological studies10.
Conclusion
The antigen-antibody response is a complex and dynamic process that plays a critical role in the immune system's ability to recognize and neutralize pathogens. Research across various diseases and conditions, from cancer to infectious diseases like tuberculosis and malaria, continues to uncover the intricacies of this response, paving the way for improved diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines.
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Most relevant research papers on this topic
A systematic review of humoral immune responses against tumor antigens
Antibodies against tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) can play different roles in cancer diagnosis and prognosis, with MUC1 antibodies indicating a favorable prognosis and p53 antibodies indicating poor disease outcome.
Systematic Review
Highly CitedQuantifying Antibody Responses Induced by Antigen-Agnostic Immunotherapies
This study presents a preclinical method for quantifying tumor-associated and virus-specific antibody responses to antigen-agnostic immunotherapies, enabling researchers to study humoral responses in cancer immunotherapies without requiring pre-defined antigens.
Maturation of an antibody response is governed by modulations in flexibility of the antigen-combining site.
Antibody maturation is governed by modulations in the flexibility of the antigen-combining site, regulating both affinity and specificity for antigen, without requiring somatic mutations.
Highly CitedThe Nature of Antibodies and Antigens
Recent advances in antibody structure and function have revealed their wide-ranging specificity, enabling adaptive immune responses to proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids.
Heterogeneous Antibody Responses in Tuberculosis
Person-to-person heterogeneity of antigen recognition is a key attribute of the antibody response in tuberculosis, rather than specific antigen recognition.
In Vitro StudyHighly CitedPRIMARY ANTIBODY RESPONSE IN ORGAN CULTURES
A primary antibody response can be elicited in vitro by sheep or chick erythrocytes, with mouse spleen and lymph node explants showing specific antibody formation.
In Vitro StudyHighly CitedRegulation of the Immune Response by Antigen
Antigen structure, localization, dose, and time are crucial factors in regulating immune responses against pathogens, affecting the accuracy of immune response measurements.
Highly CitedAntibody‐Mediated Regulation of the Immune Response
Antibody-mediated feedback regulation allows for the up- or downregulation of the immune response to specific antigens, with various isotypes playing different roles.
Highly CitedProfiling the antibody immune response against blood stage malaria vaccine candidates.
Combining recognition of AMA-1 and allelic variants of MSP2 in serum is significantly associated with protection against clinical malaria, providing valuable information for vaccine development against microbial diseases.
In Vitro StudyHighly CitedThe human immune response to streptococcal extracellular antigens: clinical, diagnostic, and potential pathogenetic implications.
Sequential samples and measuring 2 different antibodies are more accurate in defining group A Streptococcus infection than single time-point cultures and single antibody titers.
Observational StudyHighly Cited